PhD in Italy: target and organizations

Massimo SARGIACOMOProfessor of Public Sector Accounting & Management Department of Management and Business Administration University G.dAnnunzio of Chieti-Pescara PhD in Italy: Targets and OrganizationAgendaIntroductionBrief PhD history until 1998Overview of the 1998 Reform2013 PhD reform Job placement, satisfaction, etc. Conclusion and future trendsIntroductionPhD programs have undergone a deep changing over time in order to meet the UE international standards and best practices;

the latest reform launched by the Decree of Education, University and Research Ministry, 8th of February 2013, introduced new rules about central assessments;

New procedures to validate PhD programs, new criteria for their establishments and the assessment of their locations (university sites) . Brief PhD history: until 1998 (1/2)First foundation: D.P.R. n. 382, 11th of November, 1980 which considered PhD as training course to the research activities.

Location/site: School or Department identified by a national planning program.

Professors qualification based on contribution of their publications in the academic community.

Nevertheless, at that time there was neither a quality-scale which assessed the publications levels, nor a research assessment exercise; Brief PhD history: until 1998 (2/2)PhD qualification: useful only to carry on an academic carrier in the Italian Universities.

PhD qualification required to apply for academic job and get a lecturer/assistant professor position.

PhD awarded to candidates who achieved notable research outputs included in a final (written or graphic) academic defense.

PhD duration: 3 years.

Allowing final exams to those who earned a Master Degree for at least 4 years without having to apply for PhD. Brief overview of 1998 reform (1/2) PhD qualification: used to perform research duties and activities not only in the Italian Universities and Research Centers,

but also in companies, public authorities, etc.

Abolishment of the possibility for scholars to defend their thesis without physically attending the 3-year PhD courses.

Emphasizing also the teaching role in the Doctoral courses in order to get a PhD qualification. Brief overview of 1998 reform (2/2) PhD as a qualification not only academic .

One of requisites for site/location validation : partnership with Italian or foreign firms, public authorities, research centers, etc. in order to provide a better work experience to the doctoral candidates.

PhD candidates involved also in the teaching tutorship for the undergraduate and graduate courses.

Job Placement of UdA-PhDs (2003) Job Placementin the Research Field A.A. (XII) 1996-1997A.A. (XIII)1997-1998A.A. (XIV)1998-1999Tenured Lecturer UdA3,70 %16 %4 %Tenured Lecturer other Italian University 11,11 %0 %4 %Lecturer Foreign University0 %0 %0 %Italian Center of Research7,41 %0 %0 %Foreign Center of Research3,70 %0 %0 %Post-doc 18,52 %8 %20 %Part-time or Fixed Term Contract11,11 %36 %16 %Job Placement of UdA-PhDs (2003) Job Placementin Non-Research Fields A.A. (XII) 1996-1997 A.A. (XIII)1997-1998A.A. (XIV)1998-1999Full time employed in a Regional firm 0 %0 %0 %Full time employed outside the Abruzzi Region 7,41 %4 %0 %Self-Employed 0 %8 %16 %Manager 3,70 %0 %0 %Public service employed3,70 %4 %16 %Teacher High- School3,70 %4 %8 %Same Job before starting PhD7,41 %12 %4 %Other Jobs3,70 %4 %4 %Unemployed 14,81 %0 %0 %PhD Satisfaction Evaluation

Total State appropriations to Public Universities: 1994-2013

Names of the Ministers of Education ( 000.000) Source: Sargiacomo, Il Centro, 17 February 2012 PhD Italian reform 2013: effectsRequisites and criteria very tight in terms of professor qualifications and scholarship, thus reducing the PhD programs over time.

From 2003 to 2009: around 2.100/2.200 operating PhD courses.

2012/2013 years: significant decreasing up to 1.557

2013/2014: further reduction up to 919.PhD reform (2013): PhD courses

Source: ANVUR Report on University System - 2013 - 59%PhD courses by Macro-AreaMacro- Research Area 2006/20072007/20082008/20092009/20102010/20112011/20122012/2013(2006-13)Basic Sciences 600603604583576539560(-7%) Life Sciences855851833743699647656(-23%) Engineering532536521484473424421(-21%)Human Sciences 555553554488462424432( -22%)Social Legal and Economics Sciences610614612557548501489(-20%)Total3.1523.1573.1242.8552.7582.5352.558(-19%)

Source: ANVUR Report on University System - 2013 PhD Reform 2013: PhD courses qualifications a.a. 2014-2015 (1/2)Doctoral boards: no less than 16 academics (included lecturers/assistant professor up to 25% maximum) and research areas consistent with the training objectives.

Members of Doctoral Boards: reported publications at an international level in the different doctoral research areas (mainly, in the last five years.)

Strong emphasis on members A publications

ANVUR journal rating not always coincides with the academia journal rating

Average number of scholarships: 4 to 6 for each course.

PhD Reform 2013: PhD courses qualifications a.a. 2014-2015 (2/2)Sufficient and adequate available funds to financially support scholarship and research activities during the PhD courses.

Certified and specific equipments for study and research activities of PhD candidates (e.g., scientific laboratory, library, data base, Scopus, ISI, etc.).

Training and learning activities, languages and IT improvement courses. New and converted courses Reform 2013 AreaSize New 2013/2014Converted 2013/2014 Total 2013/2014PhD Courses 2012/2013VAR %North

LargeMediumSmallTotal23391375117176433361402155641119238398673-27.1-43.9-42.9-38.9North-WestLargeMediumSmallTotal2021115237922615557113372078621375374-33.7-46.9-50.7-44.7North-EastLargeMediumSmallTotal318223808417181831021920410617023299-21.7-40.0-17.4-31.8CenterLargeMediumSmallTotal63529701175832207123936127713314673352-7.5-36.3-16.4-21.3South (included Isles) LargeMediumSmallTotal342417751343248047674115514714486377-68.0-53.5-52.3-58.9ITALYLargeMediumSmallTotal7011259241277302996783474141589196198173431557-43.9-49.3-53.9-41.0AA 2013-2014: 919 operating PhD courses (of which 678 converted); average decreasing 41% mainly accounted for both small and Southern Universities. 18StrengthsWeaknessesRemoving peerage of professors.

Limiting bad practices (e.g. academic nepotism, or unfair recruitment selections)

Required much more qualifications of academicsand better research outputs from PhDs.

Much more quality of PhD courses in terms of doctoral programs, research activities, etc.Ongoing disappearing and reduction of many PhD courses.

Too tight PhD qualification criteria

Many courses will be closed or asked to merge - because of their inability to raise funds.

Failure to provide salary incentives to professors of doctoral students who boast A publicationsPhDs Job placement in Italy (2009)

Source: ISTAT Report - 2010 PhDs Job placement in Italy (2009)

Source: ISTAT Report - 2010 PhDs employed by position (2009)Source: ISTAT Report - 2010

%IndeterminatoTempo determinatoPartita IVAProgetto AAssegno di ricercaPost-doc

PhDs Satisfaction (2009)Source: ISTAT Report - 2010

PhDs working abroad by Area (2009)Source: ISTAT Report - 2010

Conclusions and future trends (1/3)The PhD candidate in Italy is still the ugly duckling!

There is the immediate need to recognize the PhD candidate as an effective worker and not just a figure stuck at a crossroads between student and worker;

UE good practices consider PhD student as a researcher in the making, expert and professional in the University according to the European Charter for Researchers.;

UE requires that PhD students, Italian as well, must be hired by an employment contract, thus not maintaining only a student status.

Conclusions and future trends (2/3)The Italian University System is fated to collapse, if the Italian Government will not invest more funds to bear and develop research activities and the University system as a whole.

Shifting of paradigm from prior erroneous view One cant eat by culture. One doesnt live of culture, Im gonna go to the buvette to get a sandwich and starting off with The Divine Comedy (Tremonti, Minister of Treasury, Statement, fall 2010).

Conclusions and future trends (3/3).. If Italy does not invest on research and education

So.What is Italian Government going to do? Time is over!!!

Grafico124.669.64.41.5

Dphill (2004)PhD earned in 2004

Foglio1Dphill (2004)Starting Job before earning PhD24.6Starting Job after earning PhD69.6Finding Job4.4No working - No Job searching1.5Per ridimensionare l'intervallo di dati del grafico, trascinare l'angolo inferiore destro dell'intervallo.

Grafico129.763.15.41.8

PhD earned in 2006PhD earned in 2006

Foglio1PhD earned in 2006Starting Job before earning PhD29.7Starting Job after earning PhD63.1Finding Job5.4No working - No Job searching1.8Per ridimensionare l'intervallo di dati del grafico, trascinare l'angolo inferiore destro dell'intervallo.

Grafico16.64.216.28.410.38.713.912.81513.83852

PhD 2006PhD 2004

Foglio1PhD 2006PhD 2004PostDoc6.64.2Research Fellow16.28.4Project or Temporary Worker10.38.7Self-Employed13.912.8Fixed term Contract1513.8Open-Ended Contract3852Per ridimensionare l'intervallo di dati del grafico, trascinare l'angolo inferiore destro dell'intervallo.

Grafico152.852.556.858.464.955.676.175.381.181.589.989.990.990.6

PhD 2004PhD 2006%

Foglio1PhD 2004PhD 2006Career Opportunity52.852.5Salary56.858.4Permanent Job64.955.6Using gained knowledge76.175.3Professional enhancing81.181.5Autonomy level89.989.9Tasks carried out90.990.6Per ridimensionare l'intervallo di dati del grafico, trascinare l'angolo inferiore destro dell'intervallo.

Grafico123.79.58.38.27.97.26.165.65.14.94.64.63.2

Serie 1%

Foglio1Serie 1Physics23.7Mathematics and Computer Science9.5Industrial and computer engineering8.3Biology8.2Economics and Statistics7.9Chemistry7.2Political and Social Sciences6.1Ancient times, philology-literary, historical-artistic6Civil engineering and Architecture5.6Earth Science5.1Historical-philosophical-pedagogical sciences4.9Legal4.6Medical4.6Agriculture and veterinary medicine3.2Per ridimensionare l'intervallo di dati del grafico, trascinare l'angolo inferiore destro dell'intervallo.